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 |  Subject: Oregon court temporarily halts GM canola plantings  Fri 09 Nov 2012, 10:40 | |
| Oregon court temporarily halts GM canola
plantings after determining crop will cause 'irreparable harm' to
important growing region(NaturalNews) Efforts by the biotechnology industry to begin planting
genetically-modified (GM) canola, also known as rapeseed, in Oregon's
prized Willamette Valley have been thwarted, at least temporarily,
thanks to persistent opposition from farmers and farmer advocacy groups.
The Oregonian reports that the Oregon Court of Appeals has temporarily halted a ruling by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
that would have allowed plantings of the controversial crop at the
borders of the highly-protected Willamette Valley as soon as this fall.
Oregon's
Willamette Valley is a pristine agricultural treasure in the
northwestern region of the state where all sorts of organic produce is
grown, much of it for the specific purpose of producing clean seeds for
farmers all around the world. Because of its perfect growing climate and
untainted environment, the 3.7 million acre protected zone is where the
majority of the world's Brassica seed crops are grown, and is
considered by many to be a "globally unique agricultural resource."
GM canola will destroy crops, land in Oregon's Willamette Valley
Allowing
GM crops to be grown anywhere near this valley; however, which has been
ODA's intention for quite some time, will compromise the integrity not
only of the crops already being grown there, but also of the land
itself, which would more than likely begin sprouting up wild GM canola
plants and corresponding "superweeds," a scenario already widely
occurring throughout much of North Dakota (http://www.naturalnews.com/033923_GMO_canola_contamination.html).
Because of this, defenders of the Willamette Valley have been actively
working to guard this unspoiled region from being intruded upon by
pernicious GMOs.
"The shortsighted approach of the Department of Agriculture and steamroller process of preparing to file a temporary rule which would invite canola,
including GE (genetically-engineered) canola, into the protected zone
of the Willamette Valley could mean the ruination of the specialty seed
industry," says the group Friends of Family Farmers (FFF), which helped file the motion to halt ODA's plans along with the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and several Willamette Valley farmers.
"This
move on ODA's part opens up one of the most unique growing regions in
the world to a noxious species of Brassica that readily
cross-pollinates, thus contaminating the genetics of other Brassica
crops," the group added, noting that GM canola
is also a Brassica plant. "ODA seems to be rolling out the red carpet
to a handful of interested canola producers and the Willamette Biomass
Processors by pulling the rug out from under our world renowned and
highly lucrative specialty seed industry."
You can read FFF's full action alert here: http://www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org/?p=1610
GM canola will destroy economy of Oregon's Willamette Valley
If
this temporary ban on GM canola plantings is eventually overruled,
several seed buyers have already indicated that they will "pull all
contracts" from farmers growing seed for them in the Willamette Valley,
as the likelihood of widespread contamination by GM canola is
inevitable. Why ODA would deliberately open up the impeccable Willamette
Valley to GM canola and put the entire local economy at risk is
unclear, other than the government bureaucracy, like many others, has
likely caved to industry pressures that could not care less about the
interests of local farmers.
"We have tried to work with the
Kitzhaber administration to slow down this process and engage all
stakeholders in public notice and comment, but ODA steamrolled producers
and has rushed to open 1.7 million acres in the Willamette Valley to
canola, a low-value crop with a huge, adverse impact on several
high-value industries," adds CFS about the situation. "This could mean
disaster for Oregon's seed and organic industries." (http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org)
Source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/037878_Oregon_GM_canola_environmental_damage.html
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